Matthew Hinton / The Times-PicayuneA 15 year-old girl, Taylor Adams, a Riverside Academy student, was found beaten to death in her home in LaPlace, according to police.

The girl was found lifeless and covered with blood by her mother, Gaylyn Adams. She was identified as Taylor Adams by Dr. Christy Montegut, the parish coroner.

Adams told deputies that she discovered the body when she returned from work to the family's home in the 2500 block of Yorktowne Drive, Capt. Dan Clement said in a news release.

Detectives arrived at 6:30 a.m. and found evidence at the scene indicating that the girl sustained "blunt force trauma to the head," he said.

Authorities say they think the girl was killed sometime after 1 a.m. on Sunday, though they didn't immediately explain their reasoning for that chronology.

Adams told police that she last spoke with her daughter before she left for work Saturday around 9 p.m., Clement said. She said she expected her daughter to be home alone all night.

Officials did not immediately say whether they have a suspect or motive in the crime.

Taylor attended Riverside Academy in Reserve, Clement said.

"The school is taking steps to assist our students with grief counselors and educating the students about handling such tragic situations," Riverside Principal Perry J. DiCarlo said in a statement.

"Taylor was a beautiful student whom teachers and classmates describe as compassionate and generous."

Neighbors on Sunday were stunned at news of the crime, which left some wondering whether the teen-ager's murder is linked to the discovery in late September of the body of a 19-year-old nursing student, Courtney Carroll, in a nearby canal.

Sheriff Wayne Jones has said that, based on the lack of bodily trauma, that case did not appear to be a homicide. Carroll had gone jogging around 8:15 p.m. on Sept. 29 and was reported missing by relatives two hours later. Her body was found the next morning.

"Things like that just don't happen in this neighborhood," Marcelle Nelson, a neighbor, said of the latest death.

"I've lived here since 1988, and nothing like this has ever happened," added Evelyn Gidds, another resident of the suburban neighborhood, where streets are lined with ranch houses fronted by well-kept lawns.

Jennifer Morris, who said she lives two blocks from the Adams home, said she was concerned not to see additional squad cars in the area Sunday. When she called the St. John sheriff's office to inquire about stepped-up surveillance, an operator forwarded her to a deputy's voice mail, she said.

"It was the same thing last time: A girl was found in a ditch, and there weren't any extra patrols," Morris said. "It's starting to get a little scary."

Troy Rouser, who lives next door to the Adamses, described her family as friendly. He said the girl's father recently suffered an aneurysm and had not been living at the home because of his medical condition.

Anyone with information is asked to call the St. John the Baptist Sheriff's Office at 985.652.6338, or Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll free at 877.903.7867. Callers to Crimestoppers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn up to $2,500 for tips that lead to an indictment.